Illinois car insurance: required UM coverage, penalties and average costs

Illinois requires uninsured motorist coverage, not just liability

Many states let you decline uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Illinois does not: every policy must include it. The Insurance Research Council estimates that 15.2% of Illinois drivers were uninsured in 2023, slightly below the national estimate of 15.4%.

Here is how the pieces fit together:

• Liability pays for injuries and damage you cause to others, up to your limits.
• Uninsured motorist pays for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance. The required minimum matches the liability minimum: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
• Underinsured motorist pays when the at-fault driver's coverage is too small for your injuries. In Illinois it becomes part of the policy when you buy UM limits above the minimum.

For example, if you carry $100,000 per person in UM and an at-fault driver with $25,000 of liability seriously injures you, underinsured coverage can help with the gap between what that driver's policy pays and your own limit, depending on how your policy is written. Ask your agent to show you the UM and UIM lines on your declarations page. Our uninsured motorist guide covers the details.

How Illinois checks that drivers are insured

The Illinois Secretary of State runs the Illinois Insurance Verification System (ILIVS), set up under Public Act 100-0373. It compares registration records with insurers' records and contacts owners when a vehicle cannot be matched to a policy. If you get an ILIVS notice, the Illinois Department of Insurance directs drivers to the Secretary of State's ILIVS program for help. Responding promptly, with your insurer's details at hand, makes a mismatch easier to fix.

Fines and suspensions for driving uninsured

Under the Illinois Vehicle Code, driving an uninsured vehicle is a petty offense. The fine is more than $500 and up to $1,000. A conviction also suspends your driver's license for 3 months, and you pay a $100 reinstatement fee to get it back. Driving during that suspension adds more time. Penalties rise for repeat violations and for uninsured drivers who injure someone.

There is a defense: you are not convicted if you show that the car had valid liability insurance at the time you were stopped. After some revocations, Illinois also requires proof of future financial responsibility for 3 years, a filing most people know as an SR-22.

Illinois premiums: statewide averages and local differences

Both Illinois averages are below the national figures, but a statewide average hides big local differences. Insurers price by ZIP code, so a Chicago address can cost more or less than a downstate one; city pages for Illinois are listed below. Your driving record, vehicle and claims history also move the price. The location index compares every state.

Teen and older drivers in Illinois

Illinois licenses teens in stages, which shapes how much supervised driving they have before they drive alone. According to the IIHS licensing table:

Adding a teen raises most premiums. Our teen driver guide explains how to keep that increase down.

Older drivers saw a change in 2026. Illinois used to require a road test at license renewal from age 75. For renewals from July 1, 2026, the road test starts at age 87. From age 79, drivers must still prove their vision at every renewal and renew in person. See senior drivers.

Speeding and road deaths in Illinois

IIHS counted 1,177 traffic deaths in Illinois in 2024. Per person, the rate of 9.3 per 100,000 people was below the national 11.5 per 100,000 people, and per mile driven, 1.13 per 100 million miles was below the US 1.19 per 100 million miles. Speeding was a factor in 36% of deaths, above the national 29%.

Driving near the state line? Compare the rules in Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri and Kentucky.